Clasp



R. L. RANK Aug. 3, 1948.

CLASP Filed June 2.7, 1945 Patented Aug. 3, 1948 vUNITED STATES PATENT; UFFICE cLrisP Richard L. Rank, si. Louis, Mo.

Application June 27, 1945, Serial No. 601,848 Y This invention relates to improvements in snap-acting, material-gripping clasps of general utility. The invention has for its principal objects to devise a quick releasable clasp of the above type which is readily operable to positively and effectively clamp material or articles, which is of simple, cheap and compact construction and which has no projecting edges to cause accidental opening of the clasp or discomfort to the user. The invention consists in the clasp and the construction and combinations and arrangements `of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specicationand wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a clasp embodying my invention,

Flg. 2 is a side elevational view of said clasp,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of said clasp,

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 in Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2, showing the clasp opened,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, showing the clasp opened; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional Views on the lines 'I-1, 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, in Fig. 2.

My clasp comprises two opposing pressed-metal jaw members A and B movable so as to open and close for gripping material between them. The front jaw member A has side anges l on its inner face and a rearwardly offset upwardly extending lug or extension 2 at its upper end that has a transverse strap receiving slot 3 therein. The side anges 2 are punched at their upper ends to provide inwardly extending pivot bosses 4 thereon. Just below the pivot bosses 4, the side flanges are bowed or curved transversely to provide longitudinal grooves or pockets 5 along the inner faces thereof. The anges I are preferably of uniform depth along the bowed portions thereof and gradually increase in depth to the lower end of the front jaw member A.

The back jaw member B has a narrow upper portion that fits between the side flanges of the front jaw member A and a flared lower portion that is of Agreater width than said front jaw member and has a transverse strap receiving slot B near its free lower end with inwardly extending material engaging prongs or teeth 'I along the upper edge of said slot. The narrow upper end portion Iof the back jaw member B has an extension 8 at the upper end thereof that is doubled back on the inner face thereof in spaced parallel y5 Claims. (Cl. 2.4-2480 relation thereto. The 'doubled-back extension 8A of the back jaw member B passes around theI pivot bosses 4 of thefront jaw member A be` tween said bosses and the rearwardly offset portion ofthe strap receiving lug 2 at the upper e'nd of said front jaw member, thereby pivotally securing the two jaw members together at their upper ends. As shown in the drawing, the backv jaw member B has a central longitudinal stiffening rib 9 along the inner face thereof and a sim-l ilar rib I0 on the doubled-back extension 8 that 1is disposed opposite to andnormally clear of the rib 9. i

The doubled-back portion orextension 8-of the back jaw member B has projections on the longitudinal side edges thereof that are bent in the direction of said jaw member across but clear ofthe sideedg'es thereof and are curved or bowed transversely to" provide transversely yieldable locking tabs or tongues II havinglongitudinally convex outer side surfaces. VThe spring tongues Il are normally spaced clear of the adjacent side' edges of the back locking jaw or lever B. In the open position of the clasp, the 'width of the doubled-back portion 8 across the marginal locking tongues Il thereof is slightly greater than the distance between the side flanges I of the front jaw A across the edges of the portions of said flanges that are bowed to form the pockets 5, Thus, when the clasp is closed to clamp material between the free ends of the jaws thereof, the spring locking tongues of the back jaw B ride over the edges of the pocket forming portions of the side ianges I of the front jaw A and are pressed laterally inwardly far enough to pass said edges and then snap into the pockets 5, thereby locking the clasp in closed position with the material gripped therebetween and engaged by the prongs 1 of the back jaw. The longitudinal ribs 9 and III on t-he back jaw B, while normally out of contact with each other, are pressed together to transmit the closing pressure direct- 1y between said jaw and the turned-under extension 8 thereof after the locking tongues III seat on the edges of the side flanges I of the front jaw and until said tongues snap into the pockets 5 in said flanges. When the clasp is opened, the spring locking tongues Il of the back jaw B are pressed inwardly by the overhanging edges of the bowed pocket forming portions of the side flanges I of the front jaw A and thus ride out of the pockets 5 thereof.

The hereinbefore described clasp is simple and inexpensive and is easily operable to positively and effectively grip the material and to release 3 the same; and it has no projections that are liable to cause accidental opening of the clasp or discomfort to the user. The clasp is of strong and durable construction and may be quickly and easily assembled; and the snap-action of the resilient locking tongues H rmly holds the clasp in locking position and permits said clasp to be quickly and easily opened. The force required to cause the resilient locking tongues |l`to snap into the zholdir'ig'.E pockets. 5 therefor is directly and positively transmitted between the back jaw B and its doubled-back tongue-carrying extension 8 by longitudinal ribs 9 and Hl which also serve to stiften and strengthen said jaw and said exL.

tension.

What I claim is:

1. A clasp comprising two opposed jaw mem.

bers pivotally connected at one end for gripping material between them, one of said jaw members having side flanges facing the other of said jaw members, said side anges having` recesses intheinnersides-r thereof, said `otherzjawinember having arr-extension that is doubled backy on one side.,thereof and has free side marginal spring tongues adapted .to snap into. engagement. withI said reoesseswhen the claspis closed.,

v 2.,The combinationfset forth in claim 1- wherein -theJdoubled-back extension -of said other jaw member ist normally spaced therefromwand the opposing4 Yfaces of' 'said other jaw member and said extensionk have 4ribs thereon that aref-normally-spaced'. apart.- but are Abrought into pressure transmitting engagement during the snapaction engagementt of. said tongues withhsaid recesses.,

3.1The combination set forth in` claim. 1- where-v inifthe doubled-back extension` .of-` said other jaw member'is: located on; thev inner side thereof and. isn normallyspaced. therefrom and. the opposing faces-,- of :saidif other v4jaw member and. said ex.- tension :have longitudinal ribs thereony that. are normallyspacedv apart but are brought.. into pres sure transmitting. engagement during the snap-v action eng-agement of-said tongues with saidremesses.

ltoi enter therebetween and snap into engagement with said recesses when the clasp is closed.

5. A clasp comprising two opposed jaw memberseonepof said jaw mem-bers having side anges with inwardly extending bosses at one end thereofv and transversely bowed portions forming recesseswinthe inner side faces thereof, the corresponding end of the other of said jaw members having an extensionv that is doubled back alongthe inner face thereof and passes around sad pivot bosses, said extension having free trans;-

vier-sely curved spring locking tongues projecting'.

from. its side edges adapted to snap into saidre'r* cesses when the clasp is closedsaid other jawv member and the doubled-back extensionv thereof having `longitudinal ribs on the opposing faces thereof that are .normally spaced apart` butv are brought into pressure transmitting contact dur-J' ing the snap-action engagement of.said tongues' with said recesses,

RICHARD L. RANK;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the ie of this patent:

UNI-TED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,514,798 Sigler Nov. 11,1924f 1,598,643 Gise Sept. :7, -1926 2,133,546 Kreisler et ai.; oct. 1817-9337. 2,153,853 Vaughan- Apr. 1li, 1939 2,363,872

Kiessling Nov.- 28,` 194:4 

